food of gaily-coloured Caterpillars. 209 



rejected by birds, spiders, lizards, &c. The connection 

 which I have provisionally ventured to assume between 

 conspicuous coloration and a poisonous or offensive food- 

 plant can scarcely be either established or i*efiited till we 

 possess a more complete knowledge of the habits of many 

 species of Lepidoptera, especially exotic. 



To what extent are Heteropterous insects, many of 

 which are very poisonous and very strikingly coloured, to 

 be considered protected, and, as far as the phytophagous 

 species are concerned, what relation is there between their 

 poison and the plant on which they feed ? 



